Courtney Ashley

On Sunday, May 16th, Courtney “Coco” Jan Ashley passed away at the age of 35. Coco was born and raised in Mobile, AL, and was a resident of Birmingham the past several years. Coco was a loving daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter, cousin and friend. She is survived by her mother, Cathy Ashley (David Montgomery), her grandmother, Jan Salmons, her father, Ronald Ashley, her sisters, Jennifer Ashley Murphy, Amy Lynn Ashley (Carlos), Kellie Christine Ashley (Benjamin), and Annie Laurie Ashley (Moonpie and Turbo). She is also survived by her loving aunts and uncles, Christi (Bill) Padgett, Robert (Julie) Salmons, and Linda (Bill) Thompson, as well as dear friends, Heather Glass, Kathryn Goodwin, Haley Cochran, Jonathan Cross DeLuca, Jack Wadkins, many cousins and her four-legged companion, Peewee. Coco was passionate about many things, including volunteering, activism, cooking, handmaking jewelry, bailing friends out of jail, giving away the spare change she needed, roasting people, getting in fender benders, and music (everything from punk rock to country, especially Dolly Parton, John Prine, Waylon Jennings, and Lucero). Coco spent her last year saving lives through public service for overdose prevention. She was a giver. Coco had the ability to bring light to your life by making you laugh, crying with you if you needed it, or simply showing you that you are worthy of love, no matter your story. She turned empathy into action. She made being different cool. She made being selfless contagious. She made being a woman an honor. She made having known her a true privilege and pleasure. As a dear friend once said, “She was her own type of Mother Teresa”. We are forever grateful to have known her and will carry her in our hearts and in our actions towards others for the rest of our lives. We love you. See you on the other side, Coco.

A celebration of Coco’s life will be held at the Alabama Music Box, located at 12 S. Conception St., Mobile, Alabama 36602 on Friday, June 18, 2021 at 7pm. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center in Birmingham, AL. https://oneplacebirmingham.com